Climate and soil

Ideal climatic and soil conditions for cardamom are as follows:

• Natural habitat: Evergreen forests of Western Ghats
• Altitude: 600 to 1200 m above MSL
• Annual rainfall: 1500 to 4000 mm
• Temperature: 10 to 35°C. Considerable variations both in the total rainfall pattern and its distribution are noticed in the cardamom tracts.
• Soil type preferred: Forest loamy soils.
• Soil pH: 4.2 to 6.8, generally acidic in nature
• Soil nutrient status: High in organic matter and nitrogen, low to medium in available phosphorus and medium to high in available potassium.